## Chapter 816 – Winter in the Capital

The investigation didn’t last long.

At this point, everyone seemed to believe me.

I and Karin Vestatt killed two high-level spirits and mentioned the existence of the Spirit Realm. This story would now spread throughout the kingdom.

My public reputation would rise, and Karin’s name… probably the Vestatt family would also become a hot topic.

Let’s think about that when we get there.

And Kelbain said he would convey his gratitude to the higher-ups, but frankly, I don’t know how that will turn out.

“Master Knight, I must return to report to the Saintess as soon as possible, so I will be leaving now.”
“Ah, yes. You must. You’ve worked hard. If you need an escort, I’ll provide one.”
“Thank you for the offer, but I’m fine.”
“Indeed, with the ability to kill those high-level spirits, you wouldn’t need one. I understand then.”

With the guidance and testimony completed, there was no need for me to be here. I immediately greeted Kelbain and approached the Holy Knights.

“Holy Knights, I will return first to report to the Saintess.”
“Understood! We will investigate a bit more here before returning! Those spirits might reappear! Leave this place to us and let the Paladin quickly inform the Saintess of this situation!”
“Heh heh heh! Leave it to me!!”

After saying goodbye, I left the room to go down to the first floor. If I ran at full speed alone, I could return quickly. I should be able to get home tomorrow.

But even as I was leaving, the mages who were waiting everywhere approached me, bothering me.

“Paladin! Please visit our Magic Tower! We can definitely have a good discussion!”
“No, come to us! Please! It’s a crucial opportunity to uncover the secrets of the high-level spirits! Analyzing the enemy is the path to saving humanity! I believe the Paladin understands!”
“We have plenty of money, so please!!”

Greed dripped from the mages’ faces.

“I have no intention of selling.”
“Wait!”

As I said, I have no intention of selling. I simply stated my intentions to those approaching me and went down to the first floor. What could they do if I didn’t want to sell? I had the rights. No one would dare to raise their voice at a Paladin.

That’s when I reached the first floor.

“Excuse me.”

A woman called out to me, and when I looked, it was the blonde female knight I had seen in the conference room.

“Are you… Knight Chieftain Yarna?”
“…You remember me. Yes, I am.”

Was she waiting for me? Come to think of it, this woman had mentioned Karin. She seemed to know Karin. She looked to be in her thirties… but I couldn’t know her exact age.

“You came because of Karin, didn’t you?”
“You know me well.”
“First, I’d like to ask how you know Karin.”
“Ah…”

She hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.

“We used to be in the same unit a long time ago. I even saw her leave the Knights Order.”
“You were colleagues?”
“Not exactly colleagues… I joined later than her. I remembered her because her skills were outstanding back then. It was the first time I had heard her name in a long time.”

I see.

It didn’t seem like they had much of a connection. She remembered Karin because they were in the same unit a long time ago.

“I see. I understand. I think I know why you spoke to me, but I don’t have much to tell you. I’ve become connected to her and am acting with her. There’s nothing special to report.”
“…I see. I understand.”

She must have been ordered to ask something. I cut off her questions by speaking first and went outside.

Outside the palace, knights were collecting the remains of the fallen. The completely frozen bodies of the knights. And the bodies of the regular soldiers.

It was a truly gruesome sight.

It was only because it was the Ice Spirit King that it was this bad. What if the Fire Spirit King had descended? Frankly, I think that would be more difficult. If the guy who descended around autumn had completely burned this granary, there would have been no hope.

Damn, it’s dangerous.

I need to inform the Saintess of this threat quickly. With that thought, I sped through the Ice Maze, which I now knew by heart. Frankly, running alone is the fastest way to do anything these days.

* * *

After returning to the lodgings, I rested for a day and immediately departed for the capital the next day.

Illyong and Ilyong, whom I hadn’t seen in days, were as healthy as ever, and just seeing them made me feel fulfilled. I still can’t help but curse every time I see them. Just watching them energetically move their legs from the driver’s seat makes me spew out curses.

Anyway, it snowed sparsely the whole way, but since we were only on the main road, it wasn’t a big problem. We returned at top speed again, and soon I was able to return to my beloved home.

“Ah, damn it. My home is the best.”

Nothing is more comfortable than home.
As soon as I arrived, I quickly unpacked and rested.

I have a lot to do starting today.

I need to write a report and go to the church.

I’ve already organized everything I need to say. All I have to do is go and speak. The Saintess will react very seriously to the keyword “Spirit Realm threat.”

“Father, a letter has arrived.”
“What? A letter?”

The day after arriving home.

I was leisurely sitting on the living room sofa in my shorts, writing a report, when Ari came with a pink envelope.

“Ah.”

Seeing that pink color, I suddenly remembered. Zenia, that old woman, had sent a letter before. I had completely forgotten.

I immediately took the letter and took out the contents.

I wondered what nonsense she was going to send this time, but surprisingly, it contained proper information. She had specifically set the date and place to meet. It said to meet at a restaurant in a few days, counting from today. When did she send this?

Did she notice that my house was empty and send it like this?

“What does it say?”

Ari climbed onto the sofa, wrapped her arms around my neck, turned her head towards the letter, and spoke.

“Just asking to meet. It’s not important.”

I showed it to Ari briefly and continued writing the report. Then, Risha came down from the second floor. Judging by her face, she had washed up in the bathroom on the second floor. She was also dressed. The black see-through dress was Risha’s identity.

“Oh, Risha’s awake? Why did you wake up so early?”
“Ah, I am planning to touch the Spirit King’s heart from now on. I wanted to wake up leisurely, but I couldn’t be lazy when there is such a thing.”

A diligent witch.

“Heh heh heh, you wanted to touch it that much?”
“Is it not a very interesting material? I could not resist wanting to touch it the whole way here.”

Risha likes this kind of thing.

“For now, I plan to do research and experiments. In my opinion… it would be good to manufacture artifacts or a kind of elixir using the heart, but there are many processes to do in order to do so.”
“That’s right.”

That’s right. The Ice Spirit King is almost the first top-tier magic item to be revealed. Thorough research and verification are necessary to use it properly.

“If it’s Risha, you can do anything. I believe in you.”

Anyway, if I leave it to Risha, she’ll take care of it all.

“Hoo hoo hoo, it is such an obvious thing to say that I can only laugh. Yes, just keep believing in me like that. Then I will be in the basement, so come down if you need anything from me.”
“Can I go down to spank your butt?”
“Ugh…! Y-You have no respect for me! Suddenly saying such a thing!”

Risha’s face turned red and she screamed.

“I will never forgive you if you come down for such a purpose!”

Risha’s face was completely red, and she subtly lifted her skirt for a moment to show her butt before going down to the basement.

I can’t resist going down now.

“Father… do you like spanking butts that much?”

Ari suddenly became innocent and said that.

“No, Ari? Why are you suddenly saying that?”
“I want to try it too.”
“…Let’s think about that later. Let’s write this first.”

That’s how I wrote the report.
I’ll organize it today and take it tomorrow.

* * *

The next day.

After finishing writing the report the day before, I woke up early in the morning, finished preparing, and headed to the Great Temple. After reporting today, I should also ask if the Battle Priest equipment can be repaired. It got a little crumpled because of that Spirit King bastard.

“Saintess, I’m here!!”
“You’ve come, Paladin.”

As soon as I opened the door and greeted her loudly, the Saintess, who happened to be smoking with her legs crossed, put it out in the ashtray and greeted me.

“What happened? You came quite early. Did you resolve the situation in cooperation with the knights and return first? What is the damage status of the Holy Knights?”
“I’ve summarized everything in the report. Please read it.”

I immediately handed her the report.

The Saintess familiarly took the report and began to read it quickly. Then, her gaze stopped for a moment.

“…Two high-level spirits and the Spirit Realm?”

She’s reading that part.

“Yes.”
“And… the army and the Knights Order. You didn’t cooperate with the dispatched Holy Knights, but you just resolved it?”
“You could say that.”

ㅡRustle.

The Saintess put down the report.

“Explain it to me directly.”
“Understood!”

I immediately recited the words I had prepared.

Anyway, what I have to say to the Saintess is the same. The spirits of the Spirit Realm opened a gate and invaded. The two high-level spirits that appeared were just the vanguard. And this invasion will not end with just one.

Just like the demons.

“So, to summarize… the Spirit Realm exists, and a gate to it has been opened. And the spirits may invade like demons?”

The Saintess crossed her arms, leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, and said while looking into my eyes.

“That’s exactly it. And it’s confirmed information. I heard it while fighting those guys. And I witnessed the gate myself, so I’m staking my name on this being an emergency. If we don’t take action immediately, the spirits will invade systematically.”

I emphasize again.

“And this is something I haven’t told anyone yet, but I’ll tell you only, Saintess. Don’t be surprised. Those high-level spirits mentioned the existence of the Spirit King.”
“…Spirit King.”

The Saintess’s eyes narrowed.

“Yes.”

Even if the Royal Knights Order doesn’t, the Saintess trusts me. So it’s okay to tell her this much.

“It is believed that the Spirit Kings of the Spirit Realm, like the Archdemons of Pandemonium, are also aiming for the lands of humans. In fact, the high-level spirits poured out their hatred for humans. They said things like annihilating humans and reclaiming this land.”
“…”
“Saintess. As I emphasized in the report, this is a very serious matter. I felt it very deeply. The Spirit Realm has a threat factor equivalent to Pandemonium!!”

ㅡBang!

I slammed the desk with my palm once.

“…”

The Saintess looked at me like that for a moment, then slowly tilted her head to the side.

“It’s a serious matter.”

Then she slowly opened her mouth.

“The Paladin always has a knack for bringing up serious matters… The Spirit Realm and the Spirit King, this needs to be officially recognized. As the Paladin emphasized, I will send an official letter to the royal family as well.”

The Saintess who said that looked quite serious.

She is properly aware of the seriousness of this situation.

“…”

But I felt like her mind was somewhere else.

ㅡGnaw.

With a strange expression, she was looking into my eyes and biting her thumbnail. What is it? This anxiety? Could it be that she’s developed a habit due to the sudden stress of facing the unprecedented threat of the Spirit Realm following Pandemonium?

With one arm that was originally crossed, she was supporting her chest, so her forearm was pressing down on her breasts as she bit her nails.

“…Saintess?”
“I understand the situation.”

That’s a relief.

“But… I think this is the most important thing.”
“What are you talking about?”

The Spirit Realm and the Spirit King.
And the invasion.

I just said the most important and serious things.

“Karin.”
“Yes?”
“That’s a woman’s name.”

The Saintess reached out towards the report and mentioned Karin’s name.

“Karin Vestatt… a former Royal Knight? It says that she and you annihilated two high-level spirits.”

I wrote everything about Karin.

“Wouldn’t you explain in detail what happened, Paladin?”

Her eyes narrowed.